The Embassy of Pakistan, Copenhagen organized an event today, 4th August 2022 to observe Youm-e-Istehsal (Day of Exploitation) of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJ&K) to mark 3 years of illegal and unilateral actions of the current BJP Government on 5th August 2019, when it removed the special status provided to the IIOJ&K by deleting Article 35A and Article 370 from the Indian Constitution in violation of the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
The event started with recitation from Holy Quran and was followed by a documentary on the plight of people of Kashmir. In his remarks, Ambassador Ahmad Farooq reaffirmed the resolve of Government of Pakistan and the Pakistani people to stand with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their struggle for self-determination. The Ambassador urged the international community to play its role in this regard and for an end to the suffering of the Kashmiri people.
The event was also virtually joined by Mr. Altaf Hussain Wani, Mrs. Mashal Yaseen Malik and Syed Mujahid Gillani. They spoke about Indian draconian laws imposed on IIOJ&K, Indian attempts at demographic change in IIOJ&K, humanitarian crisis in IIOJ&K and illegal incarceration of Kashmiri leadership.
Over the last 3 years, the people of Kashmir have suffered military siege, lockdown, inhuman crack downs, serious violations of human rights including extrajudicial killings, torture, illegal detentions and cutting off means of communications at the hands of the Indian Occupation Forces. There have been institutionalized efforts to change the demography of IIOJ&K in contravention of the United Nations Security Council resolutions and the 4th Geneva Convention.
Through Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization act (2019), the Indian government attempted illegal integration of IIOJ&K with the Indian Union, dividing the occupied territory into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature and Ladakh without a legislature.
Since 5th August 2019 there have been 609 killings including 102 custodial killings, over 2300 persons have been tortured and injured, 122 women have been molested, 41 women have been widowed, 91 children orphaned and 17,681 civilians including the top political leadership of Kashmir have been arrested. There has been an alarming rise in suicides with over 20,000 people having attempted suicide of which 3,000 have died, most of them in the 16 to 25 age group.
On this day, we reaffirm our resolve that the people of Pakistan will steadfastly support the just cause of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We will continue to raise our voice until the Kashmiri people will attain their right of self-determination. We are certain that the Kashmir cause will come to fruition.
The event concluded with prayers for the safety and security of Pakistan and the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
